Rename Variable and Find All References Finds No Matches

Question

Working in a js file and I've been able (and can in other files) to rename a variable by selecting the variable, right-clicking, and choosing "Rename." I make the change, and the dialog box reports how many places it is going to change in the file. Recently, however, even though the context/scope detection highlights the usage of the variable within the same scope:

The Rename dialog shows "0 Matches"...

And the "Find All References" function shows nothing... not even the declaration that is in the first image, above:

I have to think this is something I'm doing, or some setting I have overlooked. This file shows 0 errors (linter errors, but nothing optional/warning stuff; nothing substantial). Is there an easy answer to this?

Answer 1

OK, it has something to do with the option to "Open a Folder". I can open the file directly into Visual Studio, enter the "Rename" panel (F2), and see the references that will be affected by any name change.

However, if I open the containing folder (CTRL + SHFT + ALT + O), and then open the very same file, the Rename functionality is broken.

I have always worked on this series of files in this same manner (opening the folder), and only recently saw this problematic behavior... so I'm thinking this must have changed with a VS update.

Answer 2

Hi @timmaugh ,

Welcome to Microsoft Q&A!

Which version of Visual Studio are you using? Please create a new project to check if the Rename and Find All References work.

If it doesn’t work, please update your VS to the latest version in VS installer.
Meanwhile, you can enter “devenv /ResetSettings” at Developer Command Prompt to restore your Visual Studio default settings and check again.

Sincerely,
Anna
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Answer 3

I deleted the .vs folder, but I saw no option to Build the project (online references say I should see that on my menu, but I don't). I believe that's because I am not working in a Solution but just in a set of unrelated subfolders. I upgraded to VS 2022, now at version 17.1.0 (the latest as of this posting). The problem is also not corrected by whatever solution was rolled into the latest release of VS, as mentioned in the ticket you referenced.

Any idea what my next step should be?